KHGI-TV/KWNB-TV/KHGI-CD-Grand Island, Kearney, HastingsGI Firefighters File Suit Against City

GI Firefighters File Suit Against City

By Steve White swhite@nebraska.tv

The City of Grand Island faces a lawsuit from within, as firefighters take legal action against the city over the vacant fire chief position.

State law requires cities with a large enough population to have a full time fire chief. Grand Island sits well above that population mark, at 48,500 people.

Following the resignation of Chief Troy Hughes, the city named Tim Hiemer interim chief in October. However, under the city's civil service rules, he could only serve in that capacity for four months. That time expired February 13, 2012 and Hiemer has resumed his role as a division chief in the fire department.

As a result, union leader Scott Kuehl said the city is in violation of state law. Kuehl is a fire captain and head of the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 647.

The suit filed in Hall County district court asks that the city "with all deliberate speed, proceed to employ a Fire Chief pursuant to the provisions of Nebraska law."

Omaha attorney John Corrigan filed the suit on behalf of Kuehl. The suit named Mayor Jay Vavricek and City Administrator Mary Lou Brown as defendants on the city's behalf.